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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-02-2013PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting October 2, 2013 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Stevenson at 7:00 p.m. for October 2, 2013. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Carvelli-Yu, Cramblit, Elofson, Love, Rundle, Schiltgen, and Stevenson. Absent and Excused: None. Also Present: Index to Minutes Approval of Minutes Planning Associate Heidi Heller. VR2013-005 Variance Request to Allow a 6 -foot Fence in the Front Yard of a Corner Lot VR2013-006 Variance Request to Allow a Reduced Driveway Setback Discuss Proposed Sign Code Amendments 3. Approval of Minutes August 21, 2013 Page 1 2 3 4 MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Schiltgen/Commissioner Carvelli-Yu. To approve the Minutes of the August 21, 2013 regular Planning Commission meeting as slightly amended. Ayes — 7 Nays — 0 Motion carried. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting October 2, 2013 Page 2 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. 5. Planning Cases A. VR2013-005 Variance Request to Allow a 6 -foot Fence in a Front Yard of a Corner Lot Applicant: David Farrell Address: 7700 Bona Road Planning Associate Heller indicated David Farrell is requesting a variance to install a 6 -foot tall fence in the "second front yard" of his corner lot located at 7700 Bona Road. She explained the property is located at the southwest corner of Bona Road and County Road I. Since two streets border corner lots, they have two front yards. As such, the City Code requirement for front yard setbacks applies to two sides of the property, which means that corner lots have additional Limitations. Associate Heller stated the Zoning Code indicates that no fence in front of the front line of a building in a residential district may exceed four feet in height. The applicant would prefer to have a 6 -foot tall fence for screening from County Road I and has applied for the variance, after installing the fence. She reviewed the variance considerations in detail and recommended the Commission support the variance as requested. Chair Stevenson questioned why the fence was installed prior to seeking City approval. David Farrell, 7700 Bona Road, stated he had friends and family lined up to assist with installing the fence. He was not made aware of the variance requirement until he applied for the building permit. Chair Stevenson commented he did not object to the variance request, except for the fact that the fence was already installed. He stated the work was not completed in the correct order. He encouraged all residents in Mounds View to speak with the City prior to completing construction projects. Commissioner Cramblit questioned when the fence was constructed. Mr. Farrell explained the fence was constructed the second week of September. Commissioner Schiltgen indicated the fence was nicely done, but he had concerns with the manner in which the project was completed. Chair Stevenson opened the public hearing at 7:16 p.m. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting October 2, 2013 Page 3 Mike Winkel, 7701 Bona Road, explained there was a need for the homes along Bona Road and County Road I to have a fence for privacy purposes. He stated the fence constructed by Mr. Farrell was very nicely done. Chair Stevenson closed the public hearing at 7:18 p.m. Commissioner Love indicated this variance request was similar to the variance approved in September. She suggested fence heights allowed in the Code should be addressed by the Planning Commission for homes along busy roadways. Chair Stevenson was in favor of continuing to have the Planning Commission review variance requests for taller fences on a case-by-case basis as it would be difficult for staff to determine which roads were "busy", In addition, the Commission typically receives only one variance request for fences per year. MOTION/SECOND; Commissioner Cramblit/Commissioner Rundle. To approve Resolution 989-13, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a Variance to Allow a 6 -foot Fence in a Front Yard of a Corner Lot; Planning Case No. VR2013-005. Ayes — 7 Nays — 0 Motion carried. B. VR2013-006 Variance Request to Allow a Reduced Driveway Setback Applicant: Kent Reed Address: 2833 County Road H Planning Associate Heller indicated Kent Reed was requesting a variance to allow his driveway to have a 3 -foot setback for the property at 2833 County Road H. She explained the City Code requires a five-foot setback for driveways without a variance. Mr. Reed is going to install a new driveway and wants it to stay in the same location as the existing gravel driveway with a three- foot setback. The applicant's house was placed near the west side of the property in 1940, and the driveway runs next to the house to access the garage in the rear.. Since there is a side entrance with steps on the house, the driveway would be extremely narrow next to the house if it were to have a five-foot setback. Associate Heller reviewed the variance criteria in detail and recommended the Commission support the variance request, Chair Stevenson did not object to the request as the existing driveway was not being widened and the neighboring garage was 35 feet from the driveway so it wouldn't be affected. He supported the reduced driveway setback. Chair Stevenson opened the public hearing at 7:26 p.m. Commissioner Schiltgen asked if the driveway would remain Class 5. Kent Reed, 2833 County Road H, explained the entire driveway would be paved with concrete. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting Chair Stevenson closed the public hearing at 7:27 p.m. October 2, 2013 Page 4 MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Cramblit/Commissioner Rundle. To approve Resolution 990-13, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a Reduced Driveway Setback; Planning Case No. VR2013-006. Ayes — 7 Nays — 0 Motion carried. 6. Other Planning Activity A. Discuss Proposed Sign Code Amendments Planning Associate Heller explained the Commission discussed sign code changes at the July 24, 2013 and August 21, 2013 Planning Commission meetings and was in favor of amending the sign code rather than only having specific requirements for the County Road 10 corridor. The majority of the commercial signage within the City is along the corridor, but it would make the most sense to have the sign code be consistent for the entire City. Associate Heller also suggested that the Commission review the "sight triangle" setback amount as a 30 -foot setback seems excessive given the amount of right-of-way along County Road 10. She requested the Commission review the proposed sign code amendment and provide feedback for staff. Commissioner Cramblit recommended the "sight triangle" setback along the County Road 10 corridor be reduced to 10 feet instead of 30 feet. Chair Stevenson supported this suggestion for signs along County Highway 10 only. The Commission agreed, Chair Stevenson asked if new signs should be required to have masonry construction materials. Commissioner Carvelli-Yu thought this would be an important requirement to improve the sign aesthetic quality throughout the City. Chair Stevenson recommended staff make the recommended changes and report back to the Commission at a future meeting. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. October 16, 2013 B. November 6, 2013 Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting 8. Review Minutes: A. September 18, 2013 The Commission discussed the September 18, 2013 meeting minutes. October 2, 2013 Page 5 9. Staff Updates A. Upcoming Planning Cases Planning Associate Heller discussed upcoming planning cases. She stated Coventry was hoping to have their foundation completed this fall. She explained the Taiko and Robert's buildings had been torn down. It was noted a consultant would be assisting the City with planning the future redevelopment of these properties. 10. Chairperson and Planning Commissioners Reports Chair Stevenson explained the Lion's would be holding a Spaghetti Dinner on October 15`h from f 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. He encouraged all to attend this community event. l 11. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:46 p.m. Respectfully submitted, (T&UUA--�- Heidi Heller Planning Associate Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.